Music pairing

Keziah Jones

Singer and musician

Biography

Olufemi Sanyaolu, better known as Keziah Jones, is a Nigerian multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter and guitarist.

His unique music style, described as "Blufunk", is a mixture of his African roots, blues and funk rhythms. He was born in Nigeria, raised in England and started to write songs at the age of 13.

He spent several years between London and Paris before being discovered playing in the London tube by his producer. His debut album "Blufunk is a Fact" was a global success, led by the smash hit "Rhythm is Love"

The follow-up albums allowed him to tour the world and cultivate his African roots through his music. The worldwide release of Keziah Jones's latest album "Captain Rugged" in 2013 was the starting point of a revival of the afro-beat style.

Keziah Jones

With his atypical upbringing, moving from Nigeria to Paris via Algeria and London, Keziah Jones is quintessentially cosmopolitan. As the creator of Blufunk, a musical style born from the masterful collision between funk and acoustic blues, he is keen to convey his enthusiasm to a new generation. Krug is yet another unforgettable experience for him.

You & Krug Champagne?

Drinking champagne for me is a feeling that reminds me of when I am on stage playing music. It is very intense and full of joy. I see Krug Champagne as something very special. They work hard to create something unique. Just as I try to do in music.

When is your ideal Krug moment?

The best moment to drink Krug Champagne is immediately after coming off stage. The champagne complements and fulfills the mood I am in: very aware, very open, very clear, happy and grateful.

Any favorite Krug Champagne?

If I must name one, it would have to be Krug Grande Cuvée. Because for me, it is the most fulfilling, the most rounded, it has everything in it. It is very orchestral and it would definitely stimulate a lot of positive emotions.

Krug & music?

It is easy to draw analogies between crafting Champagne and composing music. When I make a song, I have to be sure that I will make the listener travel with me to an experience. Somebody who makes champagne also wants to give you an experience, taking you from one place to the next, and hoping you will enjoy the ride. There is a term I use a lot in talking about music, and which is very accurate when you taste a Krug Champagne, it is ‘Intensity’.

Can you explain the music pairing you have chosen for each Krug Champagne?

For Krug Grande Cuvée, I chose ‘Oleo’ by Miles Davis, live at the Blackhawk in San Francisco. There is an amazing atmosphere when you listen to the music. It is very wide, very broad, a unique recording. It draws you into the music, which is very rich, very bright, very generous; very similar to Krug Grande Cuvee.

In addition to that, I know that Krug Grande Cuvée is a combination of a lot of wines together from different years. In ‘Oleo’ you have a lot of different elements, from all the history of jazz, which come together to make something whole and fundamental. Krug Grande Cuvée and Miles Davis’ Oleo are both masterpieces in their respective arts.

Like Krug Rosé, Herbie Hancock’s ‘Rock it’ came from leftfield, the avant-garde, totally unexpected. Herbie Hancock was known as a classic jazz guy when electronic music and hip-hop came along and he released this amazing track combining it all. He had the knowledge of the classics that allowed him to create something modern and totally new. I think the blend of old and new, well put together, is a good thing. ‘Rock it’ is a mixture of contrasting elements blended together to create something ahead of its time, but in a way that everybody can understand, enjoy, and even dance to. Krug Rosé has the same qualities.

The vintage Krug 2000 goes with my song ‘Lunar’. It moves from intense chaos to smooth sensations, back and forth very quickly, but also punctuated by moments of release. At the same time, I tried to keep it rich harmonically and very precise. It definitely gives you contrasts when you hear it but remains fresh. It is very similar to the way I felt when I tasted Krug 2000.

I wanted to pair the Krug 2003 vintage with a song composed by Sonny Rollins. He created a whole theory of musical ‘harmologics’ which is based on a music that penetrates and irradiates, where intensity is very exciting and vivacious, and this reminds me of Krug 2003.

To pair with Krug 1998, I chose Gil Scott Heron’s ‘Lady Day and John Coltrane’, a beautiful song, very powerful. Krug 1998 is very similar to this, very elegant. Gil Scott Heron delivered this music in a very elegant manner and it really gets deep inside you. Hearing this song leaves you with a very pleasant feeling, much like the feeling you experience when you drink Krug 1998.

Krug Clos du Mesnil is very sharp, transporting you straight to the fruit. Thelonious Monk does the same thing. He is a composer who came from off-track ways, very direct, very sharp, very precise. He manages to bring you in, drawn you into the music and stays long in your mind.